Salty snacks are getting suggestive, with sweet and spicy variations abounding. With the Sweets & Snacks Expo scheduled this month in Chicago, the category is generating as much interest as it ever has. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor Seeds are taking over the snack aisles at some convenience stores across the country. Cubby’s Convenience Stores,

Gum and mints continue to battle for c-store share, but innovation promises to keep variety on the shelves. By Anne Baye Ericksen, Contributing Editor After months of postponements since Hershey first announced it was developing a new mint, the candymaker recently released Ice Breakers Cool Blast Chews—priced at approximately $2 for a 0.8-ounce slide pack

Despite last year’s price increases, Americans are still treating themselves to the little luxury that is chocolate. Retailers report how they control this ever-growing category and keep their focus on consumers’ sweet spot. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor It’s hard to think of anything that 85% of Americans would agree on. One consensus, however, is

Flavorful and healthy are what American consumers are craving, and expect to get it whether it’s made-to-order or grab-and-go. Some retailers explain how they use fresh and—increasingly—ethnic products to satisfy customers’ expectations. By Marilyn Odesser-Torpey, Associate Editor In a recent survey by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), almost two in three Americans (64%)

In the first quarter of 2015, CST Brands sees net income increase of 27%. CST Brands Inc., one of the largest independent retailers of motor fuels and convenience merchandise in North America, reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. Three Months Results “Led by a strong U.S. fuel margin along with

“Although we devoted our hearts and soul to the successful operation of our stores and were very proud of them, we realized that the future of our company rested in the wholesale side of our business,” says president of McNutt Oil. PetroActive Real Estate Services LLC announced the successful retail chain divestiture of M G

Gallons sold increases 40% versus 1Q 2014 volume. Sunoco LP (SUN) announced financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and provided an update on recent developments. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $43.7 million as compared to adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2014 to $15.7 million. Distributable cash flow for the

As generations change and age so too, food needs shift. Sluggish restaurant traffic growth and stalled sales in the center aisles at grocery stores are evidence that U.S. consumers’ eating behaviors are evolving. The growing influence of Hispanics, Millennials going through life stages, aging boomers, smaller households, and the need for fresh and non-processed foods

Sales increased 6.6% to $2.5 billion. Core-Mark Holding Co. Inc., one of the largest marketers of fresh and broad-line supply solutions to the convenience retail industry in North America, announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. “Core-Mark’s first quarter results gives us a solid start for 2015. I am very pleased

The past several years have seen great improvements in automation for convenience stores to improve staff efficiency and lower costs…fuel and accounting automation are two great examples. Recent security issues such as the Target breach and the TLS350 security vulnerability are great reminders that blind adoption of new technologies or capabilities could very well create

By Brian Milne, Energy Editor, Schneider Electric April marked another month of gangbuster light-vehicle auto sales in the United States, with dealers moving out an annualized seasonally adjusted 16.4 million units according to WardsAuto, the most for an April since 2005. Analysts credit low gasoline prices and borrowing costs for robust auto sales, which were

Partners with Verge Retail Connect. Cenex Zip Trip, a chain of 70 convenience/gas stores across Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, has launched its first customer smartphone app using the Verge Retail Connect platform. Connect provides retailers with the ability to positively interact with customers, and forms the foundational framework for

Appoints John Tittle as new CEO. GasMart USA Inc. (GasMart) announced today that, effective April 27, 2015, it sold its 19 stores in the greater Kansas, Mo. area. The transaction, in addition to two other sales currently under contract, concludes a six-month sale process conducted by GasMart in its efforts to restructure its balance sheet

Survey of over 1,000 U.S. consumers finds that “cool” features help shoppers discover relevant products, information and get through the store; “creepy” ones identify, target and track. RichRelevance released a new study, “Creepy or Cool,” that reveals consumer attitudes towards digital enhancements to the store shopping experience. The study finds that shoppers think it is

Purchase includes 30 supplier contracts with dealers. MFA Oil Co. has purchased, through its subsidiary American Petroleum Marketers LLC (APM), a portion of the dealer fuel supply agreements owned by Sunshine Fuels LLC and Sunshine Energy LLC. The purchase includes 30 supplier contracts of dealers in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. These stores will continue to

BIC Consumer Products USA has introduced BIC Xtra-Fun, the only No. 2 pencil with two-toned color barrels in the U.S. market. The new Xtra-Fun pencil offers high quality and durability, and its bright colors are designed to help inspire students to write. Features of the BIC Xtra-Fun pencil include two-toned color barrels, which makes writing […]

Give your guests an escape from the rush of the day with White Chocolate Caramel featuring Kraft Caramels from General Foods International. Launched in 2014, this treat is a decadent combination of rich chocolate and the creamy, sweet caramel flavor expected from Kraft Caramels. Your customers will love the on-trend flavor of this delectable offering. […]

Hunt Brothers Pizza has introduced Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza, the newest pizza to join the company’s list of deliciously daring limited time offers. Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza is now available to order at participating Hunt Brothers Pizza locations nationally, while supplies last. Made with Hunt Brothers Pizza’s original rising fresh crust, the new Chicken Bacon […]

The Hershey Co. has launched new Hershey’s Caramels, the perfect marriage of delicious Hershey’s chocolate with smooth, creamy caramel that makes every day feel a little fancy. Made with sea salt, molasses and fresh dairy butter, each bite of Hershey’s Caramels caramel provides a silky, smooth texture and flavor. The caramel pieces are enrobed with […]

International Light Technologies (ILT), a designer, manufacturer and distributor of LED-based lighting products, has introduced CanopyLight-13K, the next generation of its popular gas pump canopy LED retrofit light fixtures. All ILT CanopyLight LED retrofit fixtures are easy-to-install, cost-competitive replacements for existing energy-inefficient, high maintenance metal halide fixtures in gas pump canopies. ILT CanopyLight-13K LED Retrofit […]

E-cigarette/nicotine debate needs to be re-focused. Wells Fargo Securities LLC recently attended the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association (SFATA) Conference outside of Chicago, “headlined” by Mitch Zeller, Director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “Encouragingly, Director Zeller underscored the importance of ‘opening up the dialogue’ across various stakeholders in the nicotine space, suggesting to us

Growth demonstrates channel’s rapidly expanding foodservice footprint. Lots of pizza dough went through the doors of convenience stores and lots of pizza servings went out the doors. Cases of pizza crust and dough shipped to convenience stores from broadline foodservice distributors increased by 27% and servings of pizza ordered by convenience store customers increased by

Now offering financing on Wayne equipment, services and start-up costs for retailers in the U.S. WayneFueling Systems, a global provider of fuel dispensing, payment, automation, and control technologies for retail and commercial fuel stations, has joined forces with Ascentium Capital to offer c-store and fuel retail customers innovative equipment finance options for Wayne products, technologies

This year’s NYACS trade show to welcome more than 150 exhibits. The New York Association of Convenience Stores will observe 60 seconds of silence to remember convenience store icon John MacDougall at the start of its 29th annual Trade Show next Thursday, May 14, at the Oncenter in Syracuse N.Y. The “MacDougall Memorial Minute” will

All three military veteran finalists selected as winners. 7-Eleven Inc. hit a triple in Operation: Take Command, the contest to award a U.S. military veteran a 7-Eleven store. Although one finalist was expected to emerge in the last round of the competition, all three finalists were selected as winners. Active-duty Active Duty U.S. Army Captain

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